Apparatus for controlling elevator-doors.



I PATENTED FEB. 26, 1907.

7 s. BENTLEY. APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ELEVATOR DOORS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 6,1906.

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THE mmms PETERS co., WASHINGTON, oc.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ELEVATOR-DOORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 26, 1907.

Application filed August 6.1906. Serial No. 329,477.

To (tZZ whom, 2125 may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL BENTLEY, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Warrnambool, in the county of Villiers, State of Victoria, in-the Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling Elevator-Shaft Doors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the sliding doors at each landing or floor of elevator or lift shafts.

. hen these have been left open by accident or design, preoccupied persons have frequently stepped out into the shaft from the floor and been either killed by falling to the bottom of the shaft or injured by falling onto the top of the lift.

The object of my invention is to provide apparatus for closing and locking the landing-door while the lift is away from or leaving a landing, but opening it when the lift is opposite said landing. In the past a variety of devices have been used to this end, but with my invention a cheap and simple app aratus is furnished which will pass any floor without opening the doors, can be easily installed, is not liable to derangement, and which is also positive in action; in addition to which locks, keys, or catches are dispensed with and the liftmans whole attention can be directed toward stopping the elevator-botto1n in perfect alinement with the landing-floor, and thereby saving persons stumbling.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a landing looking at the landingdoors, the said landing-doors being closed. The frame or cage is not shown. Fig. 2 is a view as of a side elevation of Fig. 1 and parts of my invention.

tachments to the shaft. The slide is midway between its inner and outer travel, and

' they assume when in alinement.

the doors are therefore partially opened. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the elevator-frame. The channeled guides are inclined to each other. In dotted lines is seen the position Fig. 4 is a section, on an enlarged scale, through Y Y, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view of the hand-wheeled sleeve looked at in'the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows a side view, on an enlarged scale, of the releasing-tappet, the plate-spring and the bend and catch on the end of the upper slide-bar, also the vertical releasing-bar just rising to force the bend In it are shown the atand the catch backward, and thereby release the slide. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view in plan of the slide, showing the pin catch-hole. Fig. 8 is a plan in section, on an enlarged scale, through Z Z, Fig. 3, show: ing a guide-pin attached to a channeled guide.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar or corresponding parts where they occur in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 3, it will be seen that my invention includes an elevator frame or cage A. The sliding door in this cage can be of the ordinary character, or the cage may be doorless, or two sliding doors may protect the entrance. This cage or frame has on one side thereof and preferably near the door'or doors and at the top of the same a top vertical slot B. At the bottom of the same is a bottom vertical slot 0. Across the middle of the frame is a cross-bar D. This has within it a horizontal slot E, and at each end of the said slot is a hole F. To the same side of the elevator-frame A as the cross-b ar D, before referred to, and outside the same is attached a vertical releasing-l: ar G. This extends from and protrudes beyond the top and the bottom of the frame. At its top and bottom end it is'rounded. To the side of the said frame I attach an upper channel-guide H and a lower one J. At the top and at the bottom of each of the said guides the mouth of the said guide is flared or opened, as K. Behind the upper and the lower guide H and J, respectively, and threaded or otherwise attached into the said guide is a guide-pin L. (See Fig. 8.) The body of each pin moves in the slots B and C, respectively, and on the outer end of each guide-pin is a collar or head M. The said channel-guides II and J have protruding from their meeting ends pivotinglugs N. The said meeting ends are capable of movement in ahorizontal plane. Through the lugs passes a pivot-pin O. The outer end of the said pivot-pin O is secured to the outer lug and passes through the inner lug and to the inside of the cage. Around this pivot pin 0 is placed ahand-wheeled sleeve P. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) This sleeve P has flats Q on a portion of the same. These flats move freely backward and forward within the slot E, Fig. 3, in the cross-bar D, and the said sleeve (the flats included) is capable of turning round inside the holes F and locking the meeting ends at their inner and outer extremities.

The said hand-wheeled sleeve P ITO may'bekept upon thepivot-pin O by a nut or a split pin or washer or other means.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that inside the lift well or shaft and eX- tending horizontally across the same above each landing is a'lower stationary horizontal slide-bar R. Above this is the upper slidebar S. The upper slide-bar S is supported or retained by bearings R Fig. 2. This upper bar, which is round, is capable of a partial rotary movement. At one end and in a verti'cal line with the releasing-bar G is fixed the upper end of a releasing-tappet T, Figs. 2 and 6. This on its contact-face with the releasing-bar G is rounded. The other end of the said upper slide-bar S is turned backwardly upon itself, forming a bend U, Fig. 2. The end of this bend protrudes outwardly into the lift-shaft and forms a catch V, Fig. 7. The releasing-tappet T has a recess T to accommodate the stationary lower slide-b ar R. Sliding horizontally along the upper slide-b ar S and lower slide-b ar R is a slide W. Inside this slide is a catch-hole X, Figs. 2 and 7. Behind the said bend U is a plate-spring Y, which forces the said bend outwardly. W hen the slide passes over the catchVon the end of the bend U, the spring Y is compressed and the catch is forced into the catch-hole X in the slide W and locks the said slide. From the inside of the slide protrudes the inside channel guide-pin Z. When the landingdoors are closed, the said slide is locked by the catch V near the same and the channel guide pin' Z is in vertical alinement with the flaring mouths K of one of the channel-guides H or J.

I Protruding from the outside of the slide YV is the outside pin A. To this are attached the inner ends of four lines. These can be of rope, wire, chain belting, or any other material or materials or the same in combination'. The upper opening-line B of these engages with a grooved pulley C and then with a grooved pulley D above it. Its outer end is made fast, as E, to the top of its nearest sliding door X, hereinafter described. The lower opening-line B passes over a grooved pulley F, then over a lower one, G, and is made fast at H to the bottom of the nearest door X. The upper closing-line J passes round a pulley K, Fig. 2, and a pulley i above it. It then is attached at M to an extension of the top of the farthest door Y. The lower closing-line J 2 passes over a pulley N, then over a lower pulley O, and its outer end is attached to an extension of the farthest door Y at P.

The two doors at their top and bottom are united by uniting-lines Q, Fig. 1. One end of the uniting-line is attached at M to the top of the farthest door Y and passes around a pulley R, and its other end is attached at S to the near door X. One end of the lower uniting-line is attached at P to the farthest door and passes around a pulley T,

and its other end is united at U to the near est door.

In each closing-line is placed a tension-adjuster V. This can be of any character and regulates the tension upon the pull-lines.

The two doors at the landing are hung on ball or roller bearings resting upon a guide TV.

The cycle of operations with my invention is as follows: Supposing that the elevator frame or cage is at the ground-floor and it has commenced ascending, the upper end of the vertical releasing-bar Gr strikes the lower end of the releasing-tappet T. The said tappet is thus forced inwardly, and thereby partially turns the upper slide-bar S. As this partially turns, the bend U compresses the plate-spring Y. The catch V on the bend U is thus released from the catch-hole X, Figs. 2 and 7 on the inside of the slide WV. The slide, and therefore the channel guide-pin Z, are free to move horizontally. As the cage ascends, the flared mouth K engages with the said guide-pin Z, and on the continued ascent of the cage the pin Z moves from the landing toward the meeting ends of the divided channel-guides H and J. The outer pin A as it moves from the landing actuates the openinglines B and B These pull open the doors Y and X. cage continues to ascend and moves away from the landing, the pin Z, and with it the pin A, move toward the landing. The clos ing-lines J and J are then pulled, and in conjunction with the uniting-lines Q the doors are closed. When the liftman desires to pass any intermediate landing without opening the doors, he turns the hand-wheeled sleeve P one-quarter of a turn. This enables the flats to enter the slot E, and he pushes the said sleeve toward the landing, and with it the meeting ends of the channelguides H and J. When the hand-wheeled sleeve P has reached the inner hole F, (the one nearer the'landing) he turns the sleeve one-quarter of a turn, and it is locked in said hole. The two channel-guides H and J are then in aline with each other, as seen in dotted lines, Fig. 3, and the pin Z at each land ing as the channel-ways pass it remains stationary.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In apparatus for controlling elevator- 9 5 I/Vhen the ICC shaft doors, a frame having a vertical slot near its top and its bottom, a cross-bar near the middle of the said frame in which is a horizontal slot and at each end a hole, and a vertical releasing-bar outside said frame, all as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the drawings.

2. In apparatus for controlling elevatorshaft doors, a frame having a vertical slot.

' near its top and its bottom, a cross-bar near the middle of the said frame in which is a horizontal slot and at each end a hole, a vertical releasing bar outside said frame, a hand-wheeled sleeve having flats thereon passing through said parallel slot, a pivotpin passing through said sleeve, one end of which is attached to the outer lug of a channel-guide and also passing through the inner lug of another channel-guide, and a guidepin inside the top and bottom of each channel-guide moving in the vertical slot before referred to, all as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the drawings.

3. In apparatus for controlling elevatorshaft doors, an upper channel-guide and a lower ohannehguide the meeting ends of said guides having lugs,.said lugs being pivoted together, said meeting ends being capable of movement in a horizontal plane and a handwheeled sleeve adapted to lock said lugs at certain points, all as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the drawings.

4. In apparatus for controlling elevatorshaft doors, a lower stationary horizontal slide-bar, inside the lift well or shaft, a slidebar above the same capable of a partial rotary movement, a tappet at one end of the said upper bar, and at the other a bend and a catch, a spring forcing said catch outwardly, a slide moving horizontally along said bars having a catch-hole inside it, an inside guidepin protruding from said slide, and an outside guide-pin also protruding from said slide, all as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the drawings.

5. In apparatus for controlling elevator shaft doors, a lower stationary horizontal slide-bar, inside the lift well or shaft, a slidebar above the same capable of a partial rotary movement, a tappet at one end of the said upper bar, and at the other a bend and a catch, a spring forcing said catch outwardly, a slide moving horizontally along said bars having a catch-hole inside it, an inside guidepin protruding from said slide, an outside guide-pin also protruding from said slide, pulleys, four lines having their inner ends attached to the said outside pin, the two opening ones passed over certain of said pulleys and their outer ends attached to the nearest sliding door, the two closing ones, in.

each of which is a tension-adjuster, passing over other of said pulleys and made fast on their outer ends to the farthest door, and uniting-lines between said doors, all as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the drawings.

6. In apparatus for controlling elevatorshaft doors, the combination of an elevatorframe having a vertical slot near its top and its bottom, a cross-bar near the middle of the said frame in which is a horizontal slot and at each end a hole, a vertical releasing-b ar outside said frame, a hand-wheeled sleeve having flats thereon passing through said horizontal slot, a pivot-pin passing through said sleeve, one end of which is attached to the outer lug of a channel-guide and also passing through the inner lug of another channel-guide, a guide-pin inside the top and bottom of each channel-guide moving in the vertical slot before referred to, an upper channel-guide and a lower channel-guide the meeting ends of said guides having lugs, said lugs being pivoted, said meeting ends being capable of movement in a horizontal plane and adapted'to be locked at certain points by the hand-wheeled sleeve, a lower stationary horizontal slide-bar, inside the lift well or shaft, a slide-bar above the same capable of a partial rotary movement, a tappet at one end of the said upper bar, and at the-other a bend, a spring forcing said bend outward, a slide moving horizontally along said bar having a catch-hole inside it, an inside guide-pin protruding from said slide, an outside pin also protruding from said slide, pulleys, four lines having their inner ends attached to the said outside pin, the two opening ends of said lines passed over certain of said pulleys and their outer ends attached to the nearest sliding door, the two closing-lines, in each of which is a tensionadjuster, passing over other of said pulleys and made fast on their outer ends to the farthest door, and uniting-lines between said doors all as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the drawings. In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAIVIU EL BENTLEY.

Witnesses:

EDWIN PHILLIPS, CEoIL M. LE PAS'IIER. 

